On October 6, 2022, a 3-year-old Black male child was brought to the hospital in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and pronounced deceased. The Medical Examiner determined his injuries were non-accidental in nature. The child had been living with his mother (Catherine D. Carter), her significant other (Lavell L. Nance), several siblings, and multiple unrelated individuals in an overcrowded household that was also being used for drug trafficking. Witnesses later reported that Nance had beaten the child with fists, a stick, and a belt, and that the child was forced to sit on a toilet training chair for hours as punishment for urinating on himself. Despite more than 20 prior CPS reports across Brown and Manitowoc counties — including allegations of neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse — no sustained intervention had occurred prior to the child's death. Both Carter and Nance were ultimately charged with physical abuse of a child with repeated acts and high probability of great bodily harm, though the upgraded charges were not filed until approximately three years after the death due to key detectives having retired or left the department.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The HTR News article states that witnesses "saw Nance beat them with fists, a stick and a belt." Additionally, the fatality report states the agency "found a preponderance of the evidence to substantiate maltreatment of physical abuse of the child by an unknown maltreater" and "The Medical Examiner's Office indicated the injuries were non-accidental in nature." The new criminal complaint confirms "The child's death in October 2022 was caused by physical abuse."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
The fatality report documents two separate CPS reports alleging sexual abuse of the child: "On September 30, 2022, the agency screened-in a CPS Report for Alternative Response alleging sexual abuse to the child by an unnamed maltreater" and "On July 29, 2022, the agency screened-in a CPS Report for Alternative Response alleging sexual abuse to the child by an unnamed maltreater." Both assessments resulted in determinations of "services not needed," meaning the allegations were neither confirmed nor formally substantiated. The fact that two separate allegations were made suggests possible sexual abuse, but no finding confirmed it.
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
The news article from HTR News states: "One witness said the 3-year-old child would be forced to stay on a toilet training chair for hours if they urinated on themselves. They also said they saw Nance beat them with fists, a stick and a belt." Forcing a 3-year-old child to remain on a toilet training chair for hours as punishment, combined with repeated beatings with fists, a stick, and a belt, constitutes prolonged, deliberately cruel treatment involving confinement, humiliation, and sustained physical abuse beyond typical neglect.
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report states the agency "found a preponderance of the evidence to substantiate maltreatment of... neglect of the child by the mother." The mother was charged with Neglecting a Child and, per the HTR News article, Catherine D. Carter, identified as "the child's mother," has also been charged with "physical abuse, repeated acts with a high probability of great bodily harm" in connection with the child's death.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
The fatality report identifies "the mother's significant other" as a maltreater, stating the agency substantiated "neglect of the child by the mother and the mother's significant other." The HTR News article identifies this person as Lavell L. Nance, stating he was "charged with physical abuse of a child, repeated acts with a high probability of great bodily harm" and that witnesses "saw Nance beat them with fists, a stick and a belt."
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The fatality report documents an extensive history of CPS reports dating back to January 2020, including reports alleging neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse involving the child and siblings. The HTR News article confirms this, stating the follow-up investigation included "the review of more than 20 reports to Child Protective Services in Brown and Manitowoc counties against Carter." The fatality report lists at least 10 prior screened-in CPS reports across multiple dates from January 2020 through September 2022.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The fatality report states "the mother was charged with Neglecting a Child." The HTR News article provides further detail: "Nance has been charged with physical abuse of a child, repeated acts with a high probability of great bodily harm, a Class D felony. Carter has also been charged with physical abuse, repeated acts with a high probability of great bodily harm." Both adults were charged in connection with the child's death.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The HTR News article states that Nance (mother's significant other) "was charged with felony possession of designer drugs with intent to sell, felony maintain drug trafficking place and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia." Carter (the mother) was also charged with "possession of designer drugs with intent to deliver, maintain drug trafficking place." These charges indicate that drugs were being possessed and trafficked in the home where the child lived.
Notable Details
Several notable systemic details emerge from the text. The HTR News article reveals that "the review of more than 20 reports to Child Protective Services in Brown and Manitowoc counties against Carter" was part of the follow-up investigation, indicating a significant volume of reports that did not prevent the child's death. The fatality report documents that the agency was actively assessing a September 30, 2022, CPS report alleging sexual abuse at the time of the child's death on October 6, 2022, with the last contact occurring just two days prior on October 4, 2022. The HTR News article also notes a significant delay in prosecution: "key detectives with the Manitowoc Police Department in the initial investigation of the child's death had retired or left the department in the past three years," leading to a re-examination of the case and new charges being filed approximately three years after the child's death. Additionally, the home where the child lived was extremely crowded, containing the mother, mother's significant other, three of the mother's children, the significant other's child, an unrelated adult, and four unrelated children — and drugs were being trafficked in this same residence.
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